Vessel locating and salvaging apparatus.



J. M ORR.

VESSEL LOCATING AND SALVAGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. H, 1916.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Attorneys mr mmnls FEYERS c0. PHOTO-FINE. wAsmucmN. u. c

J. M. ORR.

VESSEL L-OCATING AND SALVAGING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED FEB. H. 1916.

mwwm. PaJtented De0.12,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Witnesses lnvenor wnwlu/L by Attorneys J. M. ORR.

VESSEL LOCATING AND SALVAGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. n. 1916.

P2Lt11t6d D80. 12, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

/5] Inventor Attorneys JAMES M. ORR, OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA.

VESSEL LOGATING- AND SALVAGING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee. i2, rare.

Application filed February 11, 1916. Serial No. 77,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. One, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Point, in the county of Fulton and .State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Vessel Locating and Salvaging Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to vessel locating and salvaging apparatus, and aims to provide novel and improved appa ratus of that character adapted especially for use upon submarine vessels, although it can be employed upon surface vessels also.

It is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the character indicated including a buoy or float which can be released, should the vessel sink or have a mishap when submerged, so that the buoy will rise to the surface of the water, thereby locating the sunken vessel, in order that the rescue party may come to the aid of the vessel quickly, and the buoy also serves to raise with it a cable which can be used for guiding a grapnel down to the vessel to catch hold of grapnel engaging member cmbodied in the apparatus, so that the vessel can be salvaged or raised in an effective manner, for not only salvaging the vessel, but also to rescue the crew.

The present improvements of the present apparatus also includes improved details of construction, to enhance the utility and elliciency thereof, such as means whereby telephonic communication can be had between the rescue party and crew of the sunken vessel, means for normally holding the buoy in its well and for releasing and. ejecting it, means for normally closing the well including doors which are opened automatically when the buoy is released, and means for taking up the strains and shocks of the cable when the buoy rises to the surface of the water.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus,

with one door closed and the other open, portions being broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-9. of Fig 1 illustrating the latch device of one door. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the means for normally holding the buoy seated within the well and for releasing the buoy. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating a modification. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line 66 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a fragmental side elevation showing the telephone set of the apparatus within the vessel. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail of the tower carried by the buoy. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line 1010 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a modified form of apparatus, for use on surface vessels, portions being shown in section.

The apparatus includes a sheet metal well 1 having the flared or tapered portions 2 and the lower reduced portion 8, and the rim of the flared portion 2 is riveted or otherwise secured to the deck portion of the shell l of the submarine vessel, said shell having an opening above the well. The lower end of the well 1 is secured upon a platform P.

Normally seated within the flared portion 2 of the well is the buoy or float, which has a sheet metal shell 5 of tapered form to seat within the portion 2 of the well, the upper and lower ends of the shell being rounded to withstand the water pressure, and the shell being preferably filled with compressed air. The shell 5 has a man-hole cover 5 whereby access is had to the interior of the buoy, and a vertical pipe or tubular member 6 is engaged to the upper and lower ends of the shell 5. Strengthening rings or ribs 7 are secured to the interior of the shell 5 at suitable points thereof, and have braces 8 attached thereto, the inner ends of the braces 8 being attached to collars 9 slidable upon the pipe 6, and nuts 10 are threaded upon said pipe 6, and bear against the collars 9, whereby the nuts can be rotated to bring the braces under compressive strain to thereby enable the shell to withstand the water pressure which tends to collapse the buoy.

The buoy is prevented from rotating within the well, by means of angular guide members 11 secured to the flared portion 2 of the well above the buoy, whereby the buoy is movable between the guide members, and

bifurcated or slotted outstanding. plates 12 are secured upon the upper end of the buoy and straddle or engage the members 11 to guide the buoy for vertical movement within the well, and to thereby prevent the rotation of the buoy.

Secured upon the shell 4 of the vessel at opposite sides of the mouth of the well is a pair of parallel angle irons 13 between which are disposed a pair of sheet metal doors or gates 14. The remote edges of said doors 14 are hinged, as at 15, upon the shell 4 between the terminals of the angle irons 13, and the hinges are equipped with springs 16 which tend to swing the doors upwardly and away from one another to open position out of the way. VVhenthe doors are swung toward one another upon the shell 4, they close the well and lie between the angle irons 13. Each of the doors 14 has a latch device for holding it in closed position, and said device embodies a pair of opposite latch bolts 17 slidable in guides 18 attached to the under surface of the door adjacent the free edge thereof, and the angle irons 13 have apertures 19 through whichthe bolts 17 normally project when the door is in closed position, as seen in Fig. 2. The inner ends of the latch bolts 17 are connected by links 20 to levers 21 fulcrumed, as at 22, to depending ears 23 carried by the door 14, and the lower arms of the levers 21 are connected to the remote ends of a pair of toggle links 24 which have their adjacent ends hanging downwardly as seen in Fig. 2. The joints of the toggle links 24 are disposed immediately above the upper end of the buoy, as seen in Fig. 3, whereby when the buoy is raised, it will strike the joints of the toggle links 24, thereby moving said toggle links upwardly toward a straight line position, and thereby swinging the levers 21 so as to retract the latch bolts 17. This disengages the latch bolts from the keeper apertures 19, allowing the doors or gates 14 to swing open under the influence of their springs 16.. This opens the well so that the buoy can rise out of the same.

The upper end of the buoy carries a tower 25 which is provided at its lower end with a flange 26 riveted or otherwise secured upon the shell 5. The tower 25 is provided at three or any number of sides with bullseyes or lenses 27 and the upper end of the tower 25 is closed by a cover or plate 28, there being suitable packing means or a gasket between the upper end of the tower and cover 28 to prevent leakage. The tower 25 is provided at one side with an outstanding compartment 29 having a removable cover 30, and inclosing a telephone set 31 connected to conductors 32 which extend downwardly through the pipe 6 of the buoy,

an electric lamp 33 being preferably attached to the upper end of the pipe (3 and being connected to the telephone conductors 32 to act as a visual signal. When the lamp 33 is lighted, the light passes through the bulls-eyes 27, to thereby provide a signal for help.

As a means for normally holding the buoy within the well, there is provided a stand within the lower end of the well embodying a plate 34 carried by legs 35 secured upon the platform P forming the bottom of the well. A sleeve 36 is journaled through the plate 34, and the lower terminal of the pipe (3 is threaded through the sleeve. The sleeve 36 has a collar or flange 37 below the plate 34 to prevent the upward movement of the sleeve, anti-frictional balls 38 being preferably disposed between the collar 37 and plate 34 to reduce the friction. A, collar or nut 39 is threaded upon the sleeve 36 above the plate 34, to prevent the dropping of the sleeve. A gear wheel 40 is bolted or otherwise secured to the collar 37 and a pinion 41 meshes with the gear wheel 40 and has its shaft journaled to the plate 34 and a bearing 42. This pinion 41 meshes with a pinion 43 secured upon a horizontal shaft 44 journaled in a bearing 45 carried by the plate 34 and extending through a packing means 46 carried by one side of the portion 3 of the well. The protruding end of the shaft 44 is adapted to receive a hand wheel, crank or other suitable device for rotating the shaft 44. When the shaft 44 is rotated in one direction, the gear wheel 40 is rotated to turn the sleeve 36 in such a direction that the pipe 6 is drawn downwardly, thereby seating the buoy within the well firmly, to prevent rattling or loose play. When the shaft 44 is rotated in the opposite direction, the sleeve 36 is rotated so as to'unscrew the pipe (3 therefrom, and to raise said pipe, thereby raising the buoy to eject the same, the buoy being finally released so that it can rise out of the well.

Secured within the lower end of the pipe 6 is a plug 47 of insulating material through which the telephone conductors 32 pass. and a cable 48 is attached to the plug -l-7 to be pulled upwardly by the buoy.

lVithin the lower portion of the well is provided a device for the engagement of a grapnel let down by the rescue party, and includes a heavy ring 49 below the buoy and above the buoy holding device. Standards 50 are mounted upon the platform l and have their upper ends bent back and secured to provide loops 51 embracing the ring 49. The standards 50 can be anchored to the keel or lower portion of the shell, whereby the ring 49 cannot tear loose when engaged by the grapnel for raising the vessel.

A pulley 52 is mounted upon the platform 1 at the center of the well, and an annular series of pulleys 53 are mounted upon said platform adjacent the walls of the well. Above the pulleys 53 is an annular series of pulleys 54 carried, by the lower ends of coiled wire retractile springs 55 having their upper ends attached to a ring 56 secured to the portion 3 of the well. The pulleys 54 are thus suspended by the springs 55, and the cable 48 passes under the pulley 52 and thence under one of the pulleys 53. From said pulley 53, the cable is passed back and forth in a zigzagged manner around the pulleys 54 and alternately, and from the last pulley 53, the cable 43 extends to and is wound upon a reel 57 mounted for rotation it within an outstanding compartment 57 secured to the lower portion 3 of the well 1 and communicating therewith. One end of the reel 57 is connected by gears 58 to a winding shaft 59 journaled through a bracket 60 attached to the compartment 57 and which shaft 59 can be operated by a hand wheel, crank, or the like, for winding up the cable 3 upon the reel. The other end of the reel 57 is preferably provided with paddles 61 adapted to churn the water which fills the well, to thereby retard the rotation of the wheel, and the unwinding of the cable.

Attached to another side of the lower portion 3 of the well 1 is a casing or compartment 62 containing a reel 63 for the telephone conductors 32. The shaft 64 of the reel 63 is journaled through the opposite sides of the casing 62 and is journaled through one of the brackets 65 attached to the sides of said casing. One end of the shaft 64 is adapted for the engagement of a wheel, crank or the like, for rotating the reel to wind the conductors 32 thereon. The shaft 64 is tubular and has an aperture 66 through which the conductors 32 extend. From the aperture 66, the conductors 32 extend to a commutator or swivel device 67 attached to a stationary tubular member 63 out of which the conductors 32 extend. The commutator or swivel device 67 enables the wheel to rotate without breaking the electrical connection between the sections of the conductors 32, and the details of the device 67 not forming a part of the present invention need not be considered since they relate to another art. The conductors 32 are connected to a telephone set 69 mounted upon the outside of the well for the use of the crew.

In the event of an accident to the vessel, should the vessel sink or be unableto rise to the surface. one member of the crew can rotate the shaft 44 so as to unscrew the pipe 6, said pipe being thereby raised to unseat the buoy. The buoy in being raised will raise the toggle links 24, thus unlatching the doors, and letting the water into the well. When the buoy is released, it will therefore rise to the surface of the water, pulling upwardly with it, the cable 48 and telephone conductors 32 which are unwound from their respective reels. It will be noted that the cable 48 is pulled around the pulleys 54 and 53, and the pulleys 54 in being yieldable, will prevent sudden shocks being transmitted by the cable to the reel 57 during the upward movement of the buoy. Thus, the sudden upward movement of the buoy will pull the pulleys 54 downwardly against the tension of their springs 55, whereby the cable can move upwardly faster than it is un' wound from the reel 57 and the tension of the springs 55 in pulling the pulleys 54 upwardly will gradually increase the speed of the unwinding of the cable. Shocks and strains are thereby reduced to a minimum. lVhen the buoy reaches the surface of the water, the telephone set 69 can be operated for closing the circuit through the signal lamp 33, thereby providing means for attracting attention and to call for assistance. When the rescue party comes to the aid of the sunken vessel, the cover 30 can be removed, and the telephone set 31 used by the rescue party for communicating with the crew of the sunken vessel. The cable 43 can then be used for guiding downwardly the grapnel of the salvage apparatus, and the grapnel is adapted to catch hold of the ring 49. This enables the vessel to be raised for salvaging it, and rescuing the crew.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a modified device for holding the shell 5' down in place. This device embodies a plate 34 through which is journaled a sleeve 36 having a collar 37 below the plate 34 and to which is attached a gear wheel 40. Attached to the lower end of the shell 5 is a tubular member 6 receiving the lower end of a pipe 6, and provided with an enlarged portion 6 threaded upon the sleeve 36. Anut or collar 39 is also threaded upon the sleeve to seat upon the plate 34". An insulating plug 47 is fitted within the lower end of the pipe 6, through which the conductors 32' extend and to which the cable 48 is attached, said cable passing upwardly through the sleeve 36. In this form, the pipe 6 is not directly threaded to the sleeve 36, but the member 6"is and can be readily unscrewed when the sleeve 36 is rotated.

Fig. 11 illustrates the apparatus as used upon the deck 7 0 of a surface vessel. A well 3 is mounted upon the deck 70 and has the shell 5 of the buoy seated within its upper edge or mouth, an annular depending apron 12 being attached to the shell and overlapping the upper end of the well, to hold the buoy in place. The side walls of the well 3 has openings 3 for admitting water should the vessel sink. A cable 48 attached to the buoy is trained around the pulleys 52, 53 and 54, the same as above described, and said cable extends downwardly deck 70 to a reel '(not shown) below the deck. The lower end of the pipe 6 of the buoy is engaged by a binding or gripping lever 36 fulcrumed to the plate 34", and the free endof said lever is connected by a link 40 with a float lever 48 fulcrumed to a standard 42 mounted upon the deck 70. The lever 43 carries a float 44, which when the vessel sinks so that the well 3 is filled with water, moves upwardly within the well, thus swinging the lever 36 to released position, and allowing the pipe 6 to be withdrawn from the lever 36". This permits the buoy to rise to the surface, or to remain upon the surface of the water while the vessel sinks.

It is to be understood that the drawings are more or less diagrammatical in nature, since changesand additions within the scope of what is hereinafter claimed can be made in installing the apparatus.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An apparatus of the character described embodying a well, a buoy within the well, a cable connected to the buoy, a closure for the well, means for normally latching the closure in closed position, and means for unlatching the closure when the buoy is raised.

p 2. An apparatus of the character described embodying a well, a buoy therein, a cable connected to the buoy, a pair of hinged doors for closing the well, latch de vices for holding the doors in closed position, and means for unlatching the doors when the buoy is. raised. 7

3. An apparatus of the character described embodying a well, a buoy therein, a cable connected to the buoy, a closure normally closing said well, and a latch device carried by the closure for holdin it in closed position and having a portion for the contact of the buoy when itis raised to unlatch the closure.

4:. An apparatus of the character described embodying a well, a buoy therein, a cable connected to the buoy, a pair of hinged doors for closing the well, a pair of latch bolts carried by each door for'holding it in closed position, and toggle links connected to the latch-bolts and adapted to be operated by the buoy when it is raised, for retracting the latch bolts to release the doors. I p

5. An apparatus of the character described embodying a well, a buoy seated therein, a stand within the lower portion of the well, a sleeve journaled for rotation through said stand, the buoy having a depending portion threadedly engaged with said sleeve, means for rotating the sleeve, and a cable attached to the buoy to pass upwardly through said sleeve.

6. 'An apparatus of the character described embodying a buoy, a cable connected thereto, and yieldable cable guiding means.

7. An apparatus of the character described embodying a buoy, a reel, a cable wound upon the reel and connected to the buoy, and yieldable cable guiding means between the reel and buoy.

8. An apparatus of the character described embodying a buoy, a set of pulleys, a second set of spring held pulleys, and a cable attached to the buoy and passed in a zigzagged manner around said pulleys.

9. An apparatus of the character described embodying a buoy, an annular set of pulleys, a second annular set of spring held pulleys, and a cable attached to the buoy and passed in a Zigzag manner around said pulleys.

10. An apparatus of the character described embodying a well, a buoy therein, an annular set of pulleys within the well, a second annular set of spring held pulleys, and a cable connected to the buoy and passed in a zigzagged manner around the pulleys of the two sets.

11. An apparatus of the character described embodying a well, a buoy seated therein, a central pulley within the well below the buoy, an annular set of pulleys within the well, an annular set of retractile springs suspended within the well, a second annular set of pulleys carries by said springs above the first mentioned set of pulleys, a cable reel at one side of the reel, and a cable connected to the buoy and wound upon the reel, said cable extending from the buoy under the first mentioned pulley, and thence alternately around the pulleys of the two sets in a zigzagged manner, and then GX- I tending to the reel.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. ORR. lVitnesses S. N. THOMPSON, B. M. Monms.

Gopisbf this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

